When comparing Kobo Books vs iBooks Store, the Slant community recommends Kobo Books for most people. In the question“What is the best eBook store?”Kobo Books is ranked 2nd while iBooks Store is ranked 6th. The most important reason people chose Kobo Books is:

Pros

Pro

Send eBooks as gift

Pro

Offers separate Adobe Digital Editions downloads

The Kobo eBook store offers a separate file download (most of the time) from within a users browser. this file is called and .ascm file and is what is used to add an .epub to the Adobe Digital Edition software.

Pro

Many coupons

Kobo often offers a lot of coupons for their eBook store. Some being as high as 80% off coupons. Though most only work on non agency eBooks, so not that great if the user only reads the newest of releases.

Pro

Self publish

Kobo offers a way for users to self publish their own eBooks with a service called Writing Life.

Pro

Send eBook as gift

iBooks recently updated their store to where users can send eBooks as gifts to their friends and family.

Pro

Self publishing

Users can self publish their own eBook via the iBooks store.

Pro

Sells textbooks

iBooks has textbooks for sale with a store wide rule of offering them at lower prices then what is seen on college campuses.

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Cons

Con

Not all eBooks sold on the site are Adobe Digital Editions compatible (.epub)

For some reason not all the eBooks available on the Kobo eBook site are downloadable as .ascm files. Most likely Kobo leaves this up to the publisher, as Houghton Mifflin Harcourt does not have a single book on the Kobo store that offers a separate .ascm download. What most users are unaware of is that the Kobo store is not primarily an .epub bookstore. Kobo uses a proprietary format called .kepub that only works on their own Kobo branded devices. Many of the books they sell do offer a separate .ascm file download, but not all. What exacerbates this issue is that there is currently no way for a user to know if an .ascm will be offered until after purchase.

Con

Kobo randomly changes prices

Depending on whether a user is logged in, different prices will be shown on non agency eBooks. Non agency eBooks allow for Kobo to set the price of the title instead of the publisher and sadly it does appear as though Kobo has taken advantage of this to entice new users into thinking their books are priced lower than they actually are.

Con

Forced to use iTunes or an Apple product

There is no webpage for the iBooks Store which means there is no way to browse Apples eBook selection without using one of their device or installing iTunes.

Con

iBooks uses its own DRM scheme called Fair Play on .epubs sold in the store

iBooks does use .epubs for its eBooks but sadly they are encrypted with their own proprietary DRM called Fair Play. This means any .epub that has Apples DRM purchased from iBooks will not be able to be used in other .epub eBook readers.

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